He writes in a mocking tone, implying a libertarian argument:
How many American parents would proudly send their sons and daughters off to kill or be killed in Lagos or Chibok? How many young men and women aspire to be the first American to fall in Damaturu?
These towns are located in Nigeria. That’s in Africa. President Obama has not publicly discussed sending U.S. troops to Nigeria, but can we trust him?He adds this note at the end of his spiel:
This post was inspired by Larry Danielson, Ron Paul and The Guardian.And the article includes this graphic:
Of course, what Stiles is attempting to do is link libertarian anti-imperialist views with the tragic situation of the kidnapped girls in Nigeria.
For the record, because Stiles never makes this point, libertarians hold to the non-aggression principle, which means they harshly object to any coercion, including kidnapping, by anyone. That said, this is a very big world, and it is outrageous to think that libertarians can stop or reverse every damn act of aggression in the world. I personally have not lifted a finger to stop the drone attacks conducted by the U.S.---drone attacks, which I consider an outrage. I have not lifted a finger to help Chelsea Manning escape from prison, though I think it is an outrage that Manning is incarcerated. The Nigerian situation is pretty much the same type of situation.
Basic economics teaches that every individual's resources are limited. There is no individual that can save the entire world against all aggression. So, no, I am not going to Nigeria to #BringBackOurGirls. I am not hiding the fact. Stiles is the big hypocrite here. If he thinks there is some moral obligation to save the world, starting with the girls in Nigeria, than I urge him to get on the next plane to Lagos. But he is not going to go near the place. He is just advocating for U.S. intervention in Nigeria, with money coerced from millions of Americans through the tax system. He is not signalling he persoally wants to pay for any rescue effort. He is really just a propagandist for the government. The government always likes to use emotional heart tugging situations to promote the power and alleged necessity of government.
It's pure evil, but every government does it.
And so, we have the tragic situation of 300 girls captured by a monster, with government operatives using the situation for a photo opportunity.
Coercion and killing is evil, whether it is done by a monster in Nigeria, or a President in the White House signing off on drone attacks, but we can't fight it all at once. If I could snap my fingers, and that would free the girls, I would do so immediately. However, that is not the situation. Tragically, the U.S. Empire has done a lot more brutalizing, killing and kidnapping than the Boko Haram militants of Nigeria could even dream of doing. They both should be dismantled. But, that is not going to happen anytime soon---with either group. But to portray the evil empire as an angelic savior, that libertarianism rejects, is the height of distortion.
Libertarians call out coercion wherever they see it, both here and abroad. It's impossible to fight it all. Though, if we could do that, it wouldn't be good for Boko Haram or the Empire. I wonder what Stiles thinks about that.
If only the west hadn't raised up generations of African elites who practice Keynesian social democracy with no firm property rights and which always turns into kleptocracy and ethnic conflict. I suppose we could stop preaching and teaching that even now.
ReplyDeleteAs long as we're looking for someone to blame.
This.
DeleteX100000000000
Property rights are prerequisite for freedom and prosperity. PERI-fuckng-ID!!!
The libertarian approach would be more along the lines of The Seven Samurai / Magnificent Seven, independent contractors / mercenaries, looking for excitement.
ReplyDeletehttp://naijainfoman.wordpress.com/2012/04/24/the-conspiracy-and-fiction-in-boko-haram/
ReplyDeletehttp://www.globalresearch.ca/responsibilty-to-protect-is-nigerias-boko-haram-insurgency-another-cia-covert-operation-wikileaks/5381225
ReplyDeleteThe outrage will continue until the morale improves.
ReplyDeleteThe morale will never improve because the outrages will continue unless the system is completely changed to a non-coercive system.
You can either have a system where freedom increases or a system where force increases. You can't have both.
Right now it looks like the system of force will continue until it collapses the world economy or worse.
What a shame.
You want hash tags, Michelle, here a hash tag for you #Biafra.
ReplyDeleteNingeria has its own police, its own government, its own laws...it is capable of solving its own problems. And if they're not capable, that is THEIR fault...America can't solve its own problems. How many girls get kidnapped in America every day? 2300 missing cases are filed in the US every day. Let's focus within our own borders first and then extend our "charity" elsewhere
ReplyDeleteNot only would Stiles not go himself, he'd gladly allow his proxies in violence to kill 10,000 children as "collateral damage" for the empire's photo-op with the maybe 20 girls they'd actually save.
ReplyDeleteI don't know anything about Stiles, but that article does not come across to me as mocking libertarians.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I don't see anything offensive about the piece.
DeleteDid you guys actually read the whole article? The sarcasm is subtle, but still apparent. This is most clear when he says the the kidnappings are a rational response to the drone base in Niger.
DeleteAt the bottom of the article, it is tagged "Parody" and "Satire." Obviously, if that was Stiles' objective, he's failed ridiculously on both counts.
DeleteIf FED.gov DOES spend a cool billion dollars on searching for these girls and supplying the local Police thugs with all kinds of nifty gear.........look for instances of kidnappings to increase AND spread.
ReplyDelete(see War on Terror).
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dumbasses
Exactly.
DeleteThe USGOV sends troops, soon thousands of girls will go missing. Perverted, unintended consequences.
Let's send McStain and ladyboy Lindsey over!
ReplyDeleteJerry and his pack of howling wolves are on their way already.
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